Last night I skipped out on dinner with the conference attendees (whose median age was 60). Instead, I decided to take myself to the Grand Lake Theater (redeeming quality #6 about Oakland).This theater was gorgeous! And while it was a bit run down, it was a classic movie house, through and through. Exampled by the fact that they are a "cash only" establishment.
The building lived up to my expectations: a grand staircase in the middle of a tiny lobby and a screening room that was jaw-droppingly ornate and elegantly lit. It reminded me of DC's Uptown Theater in many ways: the smell of weed, oddly placed bathrooms, and being located far away from public transit are just a few of the overlapping qualities.
You should be comforted to know that my draw to this theater wasn't the 7:30pm showing of The Heart Break Kid (Ben Stiller, what happened?). It was the The Oakland International Film Festival. This festival kicked some major ass. I saw five films for fifteen dollars.
GRASS GROWS GREEN
The story of one Marine's complicated relationship with life and death - from behind the recruiting office desk. The film explores the internal struggle of a man bound by honor and duty to recruit the best and the brightest for an uncertain future away from the familiar violence of the 'hood.
Directed by Jesus Beltran
THOMAS SANKARA
“He who feeds you, owns you."
Thomas Sankara
Sankara, a charismatic army captain, came to power in Burkina Faso, in 1983, in a popularly supported coup. He immediately launched the most ambitious program for social and economic change ever attempted on the African continent.
HEROES WANTED
Set on the streets of New York City, Heroes Wanted, (trt: 4:05) is a short black & white film that explores the idea of one’s “hero” status being completely in the mind of the perceiver.
Written and Directed by Marquette Jones
I, STAGOLEE
I, Stagolee was a black man who owned a bar in St. Louis in the 1980s. He was the leader of a group of pimps called The Macks. This short film is about one incident in the life of the hero Stagolee.
Directed by Cecil Brown
NAMIBIA
From the director that brought you “Killer of Sheep,” and “To Sleep with Anger.”
Charles Burnett's latest feature tells the story of Sam Nujoma, the first president of Namibia. Charting the future leader's political awakening and his part in the country's fight for freedom from occupation by South Africa. Rather than a documentary-style history of the long and brutal conflict, the film mixes real and composite characters to explore the spirit and sacrifices of the struggle that culminated in independence in 1990. Covering more that 60 years of history, the film was financed by the Namibian government and includes more than 150 speaking roles in multiple languages and dialects.
I loved it. I loved the films (good and bad). I loved the tiny crowd. I loved the talk backs. I loved it all. And just as I was beginning to think that my night (read: life) could not get any better, I spotted him at intermission.
He was about 6' 4", a tall drink of water by any standards. He had a smile that could light up a room - and it did. His voice was like honey, and he had a gait you could set your clock to. Who was this man? None other than: Carl Lumbly.
Who is Carl Lumbly? Well, I didn't know either.I bumped into Carl in the line for popcorn at the festival. He waved "hello" to me (or so I thought), so I did a half-wave/half-finger-arm-stretch just in case I was wrong. I was really wrong. I realized that the woman behind me was the recipient of his "hello" and I begin to smile at my social faux pas.
If this wasn't awkward enough, I stared at him while smiling. I stared at him longer than I should have and thought to myself, "Did this guy take an improv class from me?" I was willing him to recognize me, but it didn't work.
It wasn't until the final movie screened that I realized that I was sitting in the same row, in the same theater, and eating the same popcorn as Mr. Carl Lumbly: Marcus Dixon from television's, Alias.
B-list celebrities, old-timey theaters and cable cars. So far, California is turning out to be a-OK by me.
2 comments:
The Uptown is practically on red line?
Do you want the metro to drop you off right at your seat, is the Cleveland Park stop too far down the block?
This comment is pure rage because we are both in California and are not together.
I stand corrected. I was intending to suggest the distance between my home and the location of the theater. Thank you Cissy for pointing out my mistake. Jeesh. I'm REAL sad I didn't get to see you while I was in California. Real, sad.
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